VP Shettima, Zulum Clash Over Ndume’s Political Future
Tensions have reportedly emerged between Vice President Kashim Shettima and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum over the political trajectory of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, as behind-the-scenes consultations intensify ahead of future political realignments in Borno State and within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Ndume, who represents Borno South and is a long-standing political figure in the National Assembly, has remained a central actor in the state’s political structure since 2011, with a history of influence in both legislative leadership and party mobilisation.
According to political insiders, the disagreement is not necessarily personal but reflects broader strategic calculations within the APC over loyalty blocs, senatorial zoning interests, and succession politics in Borno’s evolving power structure. While Shettima—now Nigeria’s Vice President—remains a key national political figure from Borno and a former governor of the state, Zulum is currently consolidating his own political base as sitting governor, especially in relation to legislative alignment ahead of future elections.
Sources familiar with the matter suggest that the friction is tied to differing preferences over Ndume’s continued relevance and positioning within the party hierarchy, particularly as discussions begin to shape the next phase of Borno’s senatorial and gubernatorial politics. Ndume’s long-standing presence in the Senate and his independent political posture have often placed him at the centre of internal APC negotiations and power balancing in the North-East.
The development underscores the increasingly complex dynamics within Borno’s political elite, where past and present officeholders—Shettima as former governor and current Vice President, and Zulum as incumbent governor—continue to wield significant influence over the direction of party decisions and political endorsements.
Neither the Vice President nor the governor has publicly issued a formal statement on the reported disagreement as of press time, but political observers say the situation reflects the early positioning ahead of future electoral contests, where alliances within the APC are expected to undergo further recalibration.
For now, the fate of Senator Ndume’s political standing remains closely watched, as stakeholders await clearer signals from the key power centres in Abuja and Maiduguri.
